Goa: Hotel
and Restaurant Association of Western India (HRAWI) has welcomed the appointment
of Mr. Shripad Naik as the new Union Minister of State for Tourism (Independent
Charge) and the fifteenth Prime Minister of
India, Mr. Narendra Modi.
The
change in Government and the appointment of Minister from the tourism centric
state of Goa have raised hopes of the beleaguered hospitality sector,
especially of Western India. “The new government has been highlighting the
importance of tourism and hospitality as a key driver of the nation’s
economical growth. We expect it to push major pro-hospitality initiatives in
the months to come. To begin with, the Government can consider revision in the
current tax structure, diesel subsidies for power generation and incentives for
investing in waste management and re-cycling of waste,” says Mr. Charles
Bonifacio, Chairman, Goa sub-committee, HRAWI.
In its
poll manifesto, BJP had identified tourism as a major foreign exchange
earner that also has potential to create millions of jobs every year. The
hospitality industry accounts for approximately 8.8% of total employment and is
a significant contributor to the country’s GDP.
“Tourism
is the back bone of Goa’s economy, employing one third of its population and
contributing 50% of the total collected revenues. But it is now facing challenges
from tourism promoted by Sri Lanka, Thailand, Singapore and other new
destinations. Many nations offer incentives in the form of lower taxation and
lower interest rates to boost tourism. We, in India, too would need such
assistance to remain competitive and lowering the cost of the product to the
end consumer,” adds Mr. Bonifacio. “Currently entry visa for India from the UK
is one of the most expensive in the world and is restricting tourism revenue
from UK which is our bane. The government should rectify this at the earliest.”
“Some
of the other problems include restrictions on flying in and out of Goa. If you
fly to Goa on a charter flight then you can’t fly home on a direct schedule
service, it has to go via Delhi or Mumbai. Also, if you fly to Goa on a charter
flight then you can’t fly home on another carrier’s charter flight. This policy
is arbitrary and is a hassle for tourists who come here to unwind and relax,”
says Mr. Bonifacio.
In its manifesto the Governing party had proposed
to initiate a mission to create 50 tourist circuits that are affordable and built around themes of archaeological and heritage; cultural and spiritual; Himalayan; desert; coastal; and, medical
(Ayurveda and modern medicine) among others. These are expected to lead to the
creation of infrastructure and employment around each tourist circuit and
help boost revenue generation. The manifesto further sought to introduce specialized
courses in tourism for capacity development, besides according due priority to
the safety and security of tourists.
“Hospitality
and tourism go hand in hand. Growth of
tourism is integral to the growth of hospitality. The new tourism minister is familiar
with tourism and is fully aware of its potential. We from the hotel industry have
our hopes pinned on this Government to lead us to newer heights,” concludes Mr.
Bonifacio.
About Hotel &
Restaurant Association Western India (HRAWI)
The Hotel and
Restaurant Association (Western India) is a 64 years old Association of Hotels
and Restaurants in Western India. Its members include Hotels up to 5-Star
Deluxe categories like The Taj, Trident, Hyatt, J.W. Marriott and The Leela who
are some of the prominent members of our Association. With around 1300 members
across Western India, HRAWI covers Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh,
Chhattisgarh, Goa and the Union Territories of Daman, Diu & Silvassa is
considered to be the voice of the Hotel Industry. The association is part of
the national body of Federation of the Hotels & Restaurants Associations of
India (FHRAI), located in New Delhi, which was originally founded in Mumbai in
1950 by the late Mr. J.R.D. Tata.
